Ukraine: Intensifying clashes, mounting casualties

A senior United Nations human rights official today
declared the situation in Eastern Ukraine “extremely
alarming” with intensifying fighting, mounting casualties
and serious damage to infrastructure.

Briefing the
Security Council by videoconfernce, Ivan Šimonović,
Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, expressed
concern over the “rapid professionalization of armed
groups, which are increasingly well-organized and equipped
with heavy weaponry.”

“Fighting in and around
population centres has resulted in heavy loss of life and
very significant damage to property and civilian
infrastructure. Both sides must be reminded of the
imperative that they act proportionately and take
precautions to avoid deaths and injury of civilians:
otherwise,” he warned.

The human rights situation
has deteriorated significantly in pockets of territory in
Luhansk and Donetsk, which are controlled by armed groups
and where the Government has been undertaking its security
operations.

Later in the day, Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon, in a statement issued by his spokesperson in New
York, expressed deep concern about the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in parts of eastern Ukraine.

“Innocent civilians trapped in the fighting continue to
lose their lives. The number of those who are fleeing the
area continues to grow. Restoring vital infrastructure, not
least for water and sanitation, is essential for a return to
normal life,” said the statement.

According to the
statement, Mr. Ban will continue to actively and closely
follow the situation. If there is further deterioration of
the humanitarian situation, or if nationally-led response
efforts are not sufficient to meet humanitarian needs, the
UN is ready to consider additional measures of support. At
this stage, the situation is being handled appropriately by
the Government of Ukraine, in coordination with
international partners.

“The Secretary-General appeals
to all parties to redouble their efforts toward achieving a
lasting and peaceful political solution to the conflict in
Eastern Ukraine. This is the most effective way to save
lives and avoid a humanitarian crisis,” the statement
concludes.

According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring
Mission and the World Health Organization (WHO) since
mid-April, more than 1,543 people have been killed in the
east, including civilians, the military and members of the
armed groups. Some 4,396 have been confirmed wounded but the
real number is likely to be much higher.

“The fabric of
society is being torn apart by the continuous and ongoing
violence and fighting; the misinformation being spread is
building divisive narratives, hardening people’s resolve
and deepening social divides,” warned Mr. Šimonović.

In the Crimea region, harassment and discrimination has
intensified against Ukrainian nationals, Crimean Tatars,
religious minorities, and activists who opposed the 16 March
“referendum”. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimates
that more than 15,200 people have left Crimea, while tens of
thousands of people continue to flee the fighting in the
east. The total number of internally displaced persons in
Ukraine stands at over 117,910.

Freedoms of expression,
association, peaceful assembly, movement and religion, have
also taken a toll, he continued. In the east, these rights
have been strictly curtailed by the armed groups.

Worrying trends show the rise of hate speech,
particularly in social media, and a number of incidents
targeting Russian-owned banks and businesses on the grounds
that they are allegedly ”financing terrorism.”
Journalists have also come under attack, especially in the
east, where attempts at media manipulation have been
especially egregious, said Mr. Šimonović.

He said he was
particularly worried about children who remain in harm’s
way. According to Ukrainian authorities, some 300 children
are still in orphanages in the areas under the control of
armed groups. Residents in the east affected by the
prolonged may need psychological assistance to heal and
rebuild their lives, particularly children. Many others will
require help to recover, such as victims of torture and
former hostages, especially those held for long periods.

He called for a multi-year human rights action plan for
Ukraine based on the recommendations of the UN human rights
mechanisms and the work of the Human Rights Monitoring
Mission. The Government will need to address wider systemic
problems, such as corruption, facing the country with
respect to good governance, the rule of law and human
rights.

“We cannot afford to wait a day longer, when at
least 50 people are being killed or wounded every day. The
price being paid by all Ukrainians as a result of the
conflict is too high,” he added.

As for the shooting
down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which killed 298
people on 17 July, he said that while the downing of the
aircraft may constitute a war crime, a thorough, effective,
independent and impartial investigation is needed to
determine the facts and circumstances of this act.

“This investigation is now underway, led by the
Netherlands,” he said, underscoring in that regard that it
is disturbing to learn that the volatile security situation
at the crash site continues to hamper the investigators,
despite the ceasefire zone declared by the Government of
Ukraine around the area.

“It is urgent to stop the
fighting and to secure the crash site,” declared Mr.
Šimonović, adding that at the same time of course, there
needs to be accountability for those responsible for war
crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law
and gross violations of human rights law, as documented by
the findings of the UN Monitoring Mission.

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